Under the reckless splashing of the strange black radiance, the sea was struck by calamity, and the nearby islands did not escape either, once tainted by the bizarre black glow, the vegetation on the islands immediately turned into clusters of bright white.
The area near the Twilight Stele, however, was unaffected by the strange black radiance, instead, it absorbed the falling exotic power in its entirety, transforming it into the power of the Twilight Stele itself.
“Roar!”
From the dark abyss, an angry beastly roar echoed, filled with dignity and brutality, clearly hiding an unknown fierce beast within.
Listening closely, Doug could discern a hint of immaturity in it.
“What a Child of Shadow, young yet possessing the demeanor of a sovereign,” Doug admired with a glance upwards, commanded his subordinates a few words, and then leaped up, immediately, a flying beast swooped under his feet.
The flying beast carried him closer to the dark abyss.
Seconds later, Doug decisively stepped into this place permeated with a terrifying aura.
A lake that seemed to be composed of black water appeared before him, and on its surface floated a small bronze square plaza surrounded by ten bronze obelisks from which spread numerous runes chains that restrained a trapped beast.
At first glance, this trapped beast resembled a white stone carved double-headed tiger-lion, one tiger head and one lion head, both roaring at the uninvited guest as wisps of black smoke emanated from it.
Looking at this black and white scenery before him, Doug frowned, “It turns out to be a hybrid, probably a product of the laboratory, capturing a piece of the essence from the Child of Shadow’s bloodline.”
“Roar! You’re the hybrid, hybrid sorcerer.”
Upon hearing his words, the Shadow Tigon showed displeasure, and with its aggressive roar, everything in the space began to change, waves surged in Black Water Lake and a heavy amount of black smoke emerged.
In the small plaza, whether it was the bronze obelisks or the runes chains, pallid mottled traces appeared, clearly severely damaged, now truly revealed.
Merely a roar could cause such a commotion, enabling the shadow energy to unconsciously heed its command, which couldn’t help but impress Doug, making him view the Shadow Tigon more favorably.
“Hybrid—sorcerer, what do you want to do?” Facing the sorcerer’s cold gaze, the Shadow Tigon instinctively shuddered.
“Let me think, should I turn you into my puppet, or should I make you my avatar?” Doug sized up the Shadow Tigon, murmuring softly to himself.
“Don’t even think about it, you scruffy sorcerer!” The Shadow Tigon immediately felt a chill and began to struggle on the small plaza, making the runes chains that bound it clink.
Summoned by this, the lake water surged more intensely, black smoke billowed in waves, suddenly turning into fierce winds and waves that rushed towards the pensive Doug.
Doug might have been momentarily unaware, only managing to reveal the protective shield formed by Solidification Magic, before the fierce onslaught hit him, knocking both him and the flying beast back a distance.
“Roar—die, scruffy sorcerer!”
“Impressive strength, quite interesting.”
Facing a succession of attacks, Doug remained composed. The Wind-type magic was cast effortlessly, intercepting the approaching attacks, his gaze at the Shadow Tigon becoming increasingly appreciative.
Truly, a creature inheriting the ‘Child of Shadow’ bloodline was not easy to find, achieving so much in its juvenile stage.
Some creatures, upon their birth, inherit ancient and pure mythological bloodlines, naturally gaining the favor of the World’s power, crowned with the title ‘Child of the World.’
The so-called Child of Shadow is a creature naturally gifted with the favor of Shadow World’s power.
In his heart, Doug knew well that the Shadow Tigon before him was not a true Child of Shadow, yet it had inherited some of the Child of Shadow’s capabilities. With proper cultivation, it might indeed transform into a pure Child of Shadow.
Such creatures were indeed rare; realizing this, clarity gradually formed in his mind: clones surpassed puppets.
However, subduing a creature born with divine favor was certainly no simple task. Doug knew he had to prepare for a long standoff and also for the inevitable approach of troublemakers.
…
Mongna Ant Land Cottage.
When the academy utilized the Power of Flash Vortex, everyone was paying attention to the progress of this matter, and any new information would be immediately relayed back to the academy and reported to the higher-ups.
When the latest news arrived, Teresa and a few others were caught off guard.
Only Christian was different; he thought of what Ivan had said not long ago, and now that it had all been verified, one had to wonder whether it was a guess or something else, truly worthy of deep thought.
“Do you have any thoughts?”
After a pause, Victor asked those around him.
Only six had come to activate the Power of Flash Vortex: two vice deans and a chief steward, along with their trusted subordinates, with Victor bringing his junior, Wayne.
“Let’s wait and see how things unfold.”
The speaker was Christian, who didn’t want to argue with these people: “Looking at the current situation, their purpose is quite clear; they want to use our Power of Flash Vortex to unlock that unknown territory. Their goal has been achieved, and I think they will no longer target the academy.”
Many were stunned by his words, especially Wayne, who thoughtfully considered the chief steward’s association with someone.
“Was that island a decoy?”
“According to you, this is a good thing!”
Victor and Teresa exchanged glances, somewhat incredulous that the other party’s purpose was just the Power of Flash Vortex; based on that, the injuries sustained by Dean Watkin were completely pointless.
Thinking that they had been instigating Dean Watkin, which led to his severe injury due to an unfortunate mistake, both felt quite uneasy.
“It sounds unbelievable, but that’s exactly what happened,” Christian asserted confidently: “They wanted the Power of Flash Vortex, and now, with your persistence, those people have obtained it.
As long as the academy does not instigate trouble, they should not engage in other meaningless actions, and henceforth everyone can maintain peace.”
“Chief Steward Christian, please be cautious with your words, this was Dean Watkin’s decision,” Victor reminded somberly.
Christian glanced at him coldly, not disputing his statement, knowing full well in his heart that the two vice deans had a part in this decision as well.
“Teresa, what do you think?”
“As everyone knows, Flash Vortex Bay is our territory, and the Power of Flash Vortex is ours.”
“That’s right, why not first contact Barbatt and Jenkins to use the ‘Big Mirror Technique,’ and then see what exactly is happening over there?”
The two vice deans, always in tacit cooperation, decided to cast a special remote sensing spell together and called other stewards to discuss the maritime changes.
After all, this area was their territory, and a Wondrous Land had emerged on it, which surely held profit; otherwise, the Star Moon Alliance would not have schemed so extensively.
The two could hardly suppress their covetousness.